UCL – Ramos set to once again be the Los Vikingos’ thorn to Bayern

A careful look at recent UEFA Champions League meetings between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich shows that one player steals the limelight in these games. Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has been the centerpiece in recent meetings in both good and bad ways and the Spain international will be eager to get the mystery wheel spinning when both sides lock horns in the semi-finals of the 2017/2018 UEFA Champions League.

The importance of Sergio Ramos to Real Madrid cannot be overemphasized. His impact on the team is huge and his presence helps to keep all pitch departments of the club going when he is available on the green turf. This was evident in his absence in the Los Blanco’s second leg UCL quarter-final tie against the Old Ladies as Real were in sixes and sevens, almost capitulating, staring elimination in the face as they had relinquished a 3 goal advantage in front of their home fans on their home turf. Ramos appeared on the touchline in that game despite his ban when the going went tough and it was no surprise.

It can be recalled that Real Madrid’s most recent game at the Allianz Arena saw Sergio Ramos score an injury-time goal which was disallowed, although his side ran away 2:1 winners in a game in where they conceded first, before Ronaldo hit the back of the net twice in the second half to give Madrid a desired cushion.

The 2013/2014 season meeting with Bayern under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola is no exception either. Real Madrid had won the first leg by a lone goal at the Santiago Bernabeu and proceeded to the Allianz Arena for a supposedly herculean task of qualifying. However, Ramos had other ideas as he surprisingly scored a brace in the game that saw Real Madrid run out 4 nil victors. One could easily forget he was a defender going by his contributions to attack in that game.

However, the story is not always rosy as there is also the rough patch. The 2007 encounter between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich saw the Los Blancos knocked out in a 2:1 defeat on away goals, with a Ramos goal, disallowed on the night.

As the days go by, with the fixture approaching, Ramos will surely be poised to once again make a significant impact in a Real vs Bayern encounter, and hopefully, an impact that works to the benefit of the Santiago Bernabeu outfit.